Seven Versts Before Dawn

movie

In the early days of the Great Patriotic War old Kuzmich from the village of Kurakino guesses that a long war lies ahead. As the village falls under German occupation and repressions intensify, he keeps aloof, arousing suspicions. Following the execution of fellow villagers and accusations of betrayal, Kuzmich agrees to serve as a guide for the German detachment, ostensibly to get a horse and save his family. In reality, however, he is planning a sacrificial deception: through his grandson Vaska, he conveys information about the enemy's route to the Soviet troops. At the critical moment, Kuzmich leads the German mountain troopers into a trap, repeating the feat of Ivan Susanin. At the cost of his own life the old man leads the enemy to perdition, becoming a symbol of the people's resistance.

Cast & crew

Artyom Bystrov · Fyodor Dobronravov · Mariya Shukshina · Natalya Surkova · Oleg Gaas · Sergey Kempo · Timofey Kochnev · Victor Dobronravov · Vyacheslav Chepurchenko · Yuliya Shubareva · Alexandr Andreev · Natalja Shumak

Studios & networks

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation · Студия «Река»